CHESTER and Liverpool have both lost ground in the national league table of shopping destinations, it emerged last night.

Research carried out for the British Council of Shopping Centres has put Chester out of the top 10 for the first time.

The city slipped six places to number 11 and also lost the coveted North West regional top spot to Manchester.

Liverpool, which was itself in the top 10 just 20 years ago, has further slipped to 18th place, having been overtaken by Leicester and Birmingham.

Experts say the effects of regeneration are the key, with Manchester jumping five places on the back of massive re-development of the city centre and the success of the Commonwealth Games.

Likewise, Liverpool's proposed £750m Bluecoat Triangle project and Chester's £185m Northgate development are expected to lead to a shopping revival before the end of the decade.

Martin Davies, director of property and retail consultancy for Experian, which carried out the study, said: "Among the top centres, Chester has seen the greatest fall in its ranking. In 2002 the city was placed fifth overall."

Julie Webb, general manager of Chester's Grosvenor Mall, which has 80 shops and almost 200,000 visitors each week, said footfall has increased by 2.1pc on this time last year and its retailer index - which measures the number of transactions - is also up 6.8pc.

She told the Daily Post: "People do hold a lot of store by the Experian report but I don't believe Chester has slipped in the rankings because fewer people are visiting.

"Chester's appeal is in its individuality."

Ed Oliver, chairman of Liverpool Store's Committee and general manager of Clayton Square Shopping Centre, added: "We in Liverpool have been trying very hard to maintain our position, but the fact is that we are not going to go up in the rankings until we can encourage more redevelopment.

"The situation at the moment is that retailers are banging on the door to come here, but there is nowhere to put them because Liverpool is effectively landlocked.

"Manchester was able to redevelop the city centre in its entirety and lots of major names moved in, including Harvey Nichols and Selfridges.

"That's why the Bluecoat Triangle development (by Grosvenor) is so important, to find space for the prestigious anchor stores which attract visitors.

"Our greatest asset, and the reason why people are pleasantly surprised when they come here for the first time, or for the first time in a number of years, is that the Liverpool experience is second to none.

"It's clean, safe, and there's lots to see and do as well as fine places to eat and drink - and that's before you hit the shops.

"But we can't take our eye off the ball because there's always going to be someone waiting to jump in our place."

LEAGUE OF TOP CENTRES

MERSEYSIDE and Cheshire hold four places in the regional rankings for the North West, losing out again to the Manchester region with five.

Chester and Liverpool second and third spots with Manchester City Centre at number one.

The only out-of-town centre to make it into the top 10 is the Trafford Centre at four, followed by Stockport and Bolton.

Britain's newest city, Preston, comes in at number seven, followed by Warrington in 8th and Birkenhead in 9th.

Southport and Bootle, which had been the most profitable retail venue in 2001, this year failed to make it on to the rankings.

Business leaders in Wirral were delighted with their placing.

Ken Davies, chief executive of Wirral Chamber of Commerce, said: "All the hard work put in by the town centre manager is now paying dividends.